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Best gift to myself .. on the calendar.

With the smoke having mostly cleared from what seem like weeks of bang up 40th birthday celebrations .. my mind is turning back to the things I would like to do, have to do, and should do.

Especially for my overall mental and physical health.

Like .. catch up on work. Run an extra mile each day to counteract my (I’m certain) ever slowing metabolism and the fact I’m not willing to give up good beer. Or chocolate. Eat more salad. Check in with my life coach. Catch up on email and continue to purge all this non-essential electronically and otherwise in my home/office/surroundings and life. Finally schedule that yard sale with the neighbors, an appointment for my new crowns ..

And, a mammogram.

Check.

………………

I was waiting the other day to hear back from someone close .. on a biopsy she needed to have done to determine if the lumps she had found in her breast, were cancerous. Or, just plain old lumps.

But at 32-years-old and with a history of breast cancer in her family we were all holding our breath, I do believe.

It was that morning, and I was rushing through my morning routine and had about 2 minutes to shower and get out the door ..

I thought to myself: When is the last time I even did a self-exam let alone think about scheduling a mammogram given I’m now ‘at that age’?

I did a quick self exam that morning, now about a week ago. Not that I would have known if something were abnormal.

Because it had been so long.

I actually had my first mammogram a few years ago, as there was a suspicious area my doctor and I both wanted checked out. Turned out it was nothing. But .. I haven’t thought about it since. Other than the fact I know I am at risk because 1.) I am a woman. (although men can receive the diagnosis) And 2.) I, like my friend and so many others out there, have a maternal history of breast cancer in my own bloodline as well.

My girlfriends biopsy, thankfully we celebrated as benign.

While there are a lot of suggestions out there right now as to how often one should have a mammogram if ever, how effective they might actually be and who should get them .. mine is now on the calendar.

Finding the energy to call both the dentist and the IRS will have to wait until Monday.

About Carleen Wild

Journalist. Communications consultant. Photographer. Helping you share your story in a way that is meaningful to you as a person or for your business. Wife. Mom. Wisconsin transplant to South Dakota trying not to get swept away in crazy massive winds of Great Plains. Missing delicious cheese and great local brews.

9 thoughts on “Best gift to myself .. on the calendar.”

Carleen, I love your blog. The pictures are wonderful and inspiring, yet give you and me a sense of your privacy. Thanks for sharing. I just read several of your entries. A friend of mine just had to repeat her mamogram. We were all a little worried, yet, as women, sticking our chin out and going on … well, she is fine. We were very happy. Now we are planning a rock hunting trip this summer. It was on hold due to the mamogram. Now, no holds barred! This I do for myself and in the end, it is better for every one in my family too! We are going to a Pow Wow and then a week long hunt. Can’t wait. Wish my mom and dad were here to share the stories with and learn from their past adventures. Love to you from your shirt tail cousin, Marjie (Lake) Butler

Marjie, so good to hear from you and love your thoughts. Glad to hear from you. Happy your friend is well. Your trip back on. And you’ve got some fun things going on! Sincerely appreciate your comments, compliments and touching base. Heart you and hope we can all connect soon in person!!!